Hebrew · H6663, G1344 · unreviewed

צָדַק

To be (causatively, make ) right (in a moral or forensic sense) · to justify

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

צָדַק H6663 to be (causatively, make ) right (in a moral or forensic sense)

Pronunciation ṣāḏaq

Judicial vindication and moral rightness merge: to be declared innocent or to establish justice through forensic acquittal.

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δικαιόω G1344 to justify

Pronunciation dikaióō

To declare or pronounce righteous, not merely to make righteous; forensic acquittal rather than moral transformation.

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What does צָדַק (tsadaq) mean in the Bible?

צָדַק · δικαιόω is a Hebrew word meaning "to declare righteous or acquit".

Full entry for צָדַק (H6663, G1344) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to declare righteous or acquit

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 20×

Imperfect Job 4:17 · Job 9:2 · Job 11:2 · Job 15:14 · Job 25:4 · Ps 143:2 · Isa 43:26 · Job 22:3 · Job 40:8 · Ps 51:6 · Job 9:20 · Job 13:18 · Ezek 16:52 · Isa 45:25 14×

Perfect Job 9:15 · Job 34:5 · Job 33:12 · Job 35:7 · Gen 38:26 · Ps 19:10 6×

Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 6×

Imperfect Exod 23:7 · Job 27:5 · Isa 53:11 3×

Participle active Isa 5:23 · Prov 17:15 2×

Sequential imperfect Ps 82:3 1×

Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×

Imperfect Gen 44:16 1×

Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 1×

Perfect Jer 3:11 1×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 28 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Imperfect 18 Perfect 7 Participle 2 Imperative 1

Stem

Qal 20 Hiphil 6 Hithpael 1 Piel 1

Mood

Indicative/jussive 13 Indicative 7 Indicative/cohortative 5 Imperative 1

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

1 Corinthians 6 — Judge Righteously, Flee Sexual Immorality, and Glorify God in Your Body Acts 13 — The Spirit Sends the Mission and the Word Turns to the Gentiles Galatians 2 — Justified by Faith: Gospel Unity, Apostolic Confrontation, and Life in Christ Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 16 — Faithful Stewardship, the Danger of Wealth, and the Finality of Judgment Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Romans 3 — All Under Sin and the Righteousness of God Revealed Through Faith in Christ Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 6 — Dead to Sin and Alive to God in Christ Jesus Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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